From the moment Klint Kubiak took over as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, the hype around Ashton Jeanty has only grown louder. Kubiak is regarded as one of the sharper offensive minds in the league, having just led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl as offensive coordinator, and he's made clear his vision for Las Vegas is an offense built strongly around the run. But Raiders fans held their breath during practice on Aug. 23, when Jeanty dove for a low pass, landed awkwardly, and had to be helped off the field with an ankle injury.
He hasn't returned to a full practice since, despite Kubiak saying last week that Jeanty was "on the mend." With Week 1 inching closer, worry was starting to build over his availability. On Wednesday, though, Kubiak provided an encouraging update. Asked if he was "optimistic" that Jeanty would play in Week 1, Kubiak simply replied, "Yes," before elaborating: "He's continuing to improve.
You guys saw him out there yesterday. He's still on the mend." More news: Bills Release Super Bowl Champion Right Before the Start of the Season More news: Joe Burrow Refuses to Hide Bengals’ Super Bowl Expectations Kubiak has kept his cards close to the vest since the injury, which isn't entirely surprising. It's believed to be a relatively minor ankle sprain, and the Raiders are likely just holding him out as a precaution.
There's no reason to tip their hand to opponents at this stage about whether their most dangerous offensive weapon will be available — especially given how the offense reportedly intends to use him. Jeanty has been hyped up all offseason, with Kubiak saying he wants to deploy him similarly to how the 49ers use Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. McCaffrey is coming off a season in which he led the league with 413 total touches.
If Jeanty approaches that kind of workload behind a revamped offensive line, it's easy to see him taking a major leap in 2026. The offense is built to run through Jeanty, and fans have high expectations for the former Heisman finalist this season. But as they say, availability is the best ability — and right now, that remains the biggest question mark surrounding Jeanty with the season opener just over a week away.
The Raiders kick off the regular season against the Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 13, in Las Vegas. More news: Aaron Donald Drops Bold Claim About Return to NFL
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